Modular room fortification system for storm protection

ABSTRACT

The invention is of a modular storm and earthquake shelter system and method fabrication thereof, which invention depends from the assembly of a metal sheet clad cage-like structure made from prefabricated panels and ancillary components which are selected to contribute to a structure which essentially becomes a lining of the interior surfaces of an existing room of an existing structure (a closet in most instances).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of The Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to storm and earthquake shelters.

[0003] 2. Background Information

[0004] Wind storms (hurricanes, straight-line winds from thunderstormsand tornadoes) and earthquakes are potentially deadly events for anyoneunder any circumstances. However, the risk is much greater for personsin structures which have not been specifically fortified to withstandthe forces of wind and earthquake.

[0005] However desirable, it is simply not an attainable goal to fortifyall dwellings and places of business sufficiently to protect occupantsfrom structural collapse and/or flying debris as arises from wind stormsand earthquakes. While new construction of dwellings and businessstructures to achieve satisfactory levels of wind storm and earthquakeprotection is quite costly, it can be even more costly to essentiallyre-build and existing structure to attain such an objective.

[0006] Near countless storm and earthquake shelter designs are availableto consumers. However, costs of acquisition and/or construction isprohibitive for many consumers. Even for many who would expend areasonable sum for some degree of storm or earthquake protection,conventional protection schemes are not practical because of spacelimitations, excavation impediments, building code restrictions, etc.

[0007] It would well serve countless millions of individuals to haveavailable and effective, affordable, and easily situated shelter aswould be effective in protecting people from the hazards inherent instructural collapse or partial disintegration, together with flyingdebris, all also issued with wind storms and earthquakes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide a modular storm and earthquake shelter system.

[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide amodular storm and earthquake shelter system which is designed forplacement within an existing room of an existing structure.

[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide amodular storm and earthquake shelter system which provides a shell ofwind storm or earthquake protection within existing rooms of existingstructures.

[0011] It is another object of the present invention to provide amodular storm and earthquake shelter system which, because of itsconfiguration and method of construction, can both be placed within anexisting room of an existing structure and be substantially coextensivewith the interior dimensions of such room and thereby be veryunobtrusive.

[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide a stormand earthquake shelter system which, because of its construction fromprefabricated panels, is more economical to purchase and install thanalternative, available storm and earthquake shelter apparatuses.

[0013] In satisfaction of the foregoing objectives, the presentinvention provides a modular storm and earthquake shelter system andmethod fabrication thereof, which invention depends from the assembly ofa metal sheet clad cage-like structure made from prefabricated panelsand ancillary components which are selected to contribute to a structurewhich essentially becomes a lining of the interior surfaces of anexisting room of an existing structure (a closet in most instances).

[0014] When assembled and installed, embodiments of the presentinvention provide a safe haven for occupants of a structure which isotherwise inadequately fortified to withstand the forces of a deadly andstorm or earthquake. The panels for constructing an embodiment of thepresent invention will, according to the best mode of the presentinvention, be of dimensions such that the completed structure willclosely nest within an existing room or closet. Thus, the structure willbe quite unobtrusive, consuming very little of the space of the existingroom. Of course, it is always an option for consumers to acquire anembodiment of the present invention which, while incorporating thefundamental aspects thereof, does not occupy the entire interior spaceof an existing room, but rather occupies only a portion thereof (such aswhen a safe haven is desired to be provided within the bounds of a roomlarger than would be necessary to protect the occupants of any givendwellings or structure).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fully assembled shelteraccording to the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shelter of FIG. 1 with astructural panel shown exposed.

[0017]FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the preferred panels for use inconstructing the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 4 is an alternative configuration for panels for use inconstructing the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a shelter according to the presentinvention without any exterior cladding for showing the internal panelstructure and assembly according to the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a panel with a door orifice foruse as one surface of a shelter of the preferred embodiment.

[0021]FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a non-door panel for use as onesurface of a shelter of the preferred embodiment.

[0022] FIGS. 8/8A is an elevational, partial cutaway view of a panel ofthe preferred embodiment, which view depicts the bolt and nut accesscutaways in the metal sheet shelter cladding for use in assembling ashelter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, the completed storm or earthquake shelteraccording to present invention appears as merely a box with and openinginto the interior thereof. However, as the following description willmake clear, there is much more to the present structure than meets theeye.

[0024] Referring principally to FIGS. 1 and 2, an example of a storm orearthquake shelter according to the present invention is identifiedgenerally by the referenced numeral 10. Whatever the dimensions oroverall shape of a storm or earthquake shelter of the present invention(the rectangular example in FIGS. 1 and 2 being one of a variety ofpossible, overall configurations), shelter 10 will be constructed, inpart, of panels 12.

[0025] Referring initially to FIG. 3, each panel 12 is, in the preferredembodiment, a square or rectangular grid of steel bars 14 welded withina perimeter frame 16. Referring to FIG. 4, and alternative constructionof panels useful in practicing the present invention, and involvingnested steel rectangles is depicted.

[0026] In any event, panels 12 will, when practicing the presentinvention, and when assembled as intended, form a jail cell-likestructure of steel bars 14.

[0027] Referring principally to FIGS. 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8/8A, assembly of astorm or earthquake shelter 10 of the present invention involves boltingpanels 12 together. To that end, bolt holes (not separately visible inthe drawings) are formed through the perimeter frame 16 of each panelfor use with nut and bolt pairings 18, such bolt holes being oriented(as is clearly apparent in FIG. 2) to enable assembly of the desired,final configuration for shelter 10.

[0028] Referring principally to FIGS. 1 and 8/8A,each panel 12 is cladwith metal sheets 20, both to provide additional structural strength andto provide a barrier from small flying debris. Metal sheets 20 areultimately attached to the bars 14 and perimeter frames 16 of panels 12using rivets or other suitable fasteners are to final assembly at aninstallation site. Some form of filler (not shown in the drawings) maybe provided in the spaces between bars 14, for sound dampening and/oradditional projectile arresting purposes. In the latter event, steelmesh sheets or KEVLAR sheets will have some beneficial effect, and evensteel wool packing will likely provide some degree of additionalprotection.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 8/8A, cut outs 22 are provided in each metalsheet 20 as is necessary to provide access to those portions of eachperimeter frame 16 of each panel 12 for connecting adjacent panels 12through use of nut and bolt pairings 18. For ease of ultimate assembly,it is recommended that, before adding metal sheets 20 to panels 12, theentire assembly of panels 12 for any given project be bolted togetherand the nuts of each nut and bolt pairing 18 be welded in place so that,at final assembly of a shelter 10, a bolt need only be inserted througha bolt hole and advanced into the then-stationery nut without risk ofdropping a nut into an unreachable portion of a panel 12.

[0030] Although not depicted in the drawings, additional holes areprovided in those panels 12 which are-used to form floor sections of ashelter 10 so that the shelter 10 may be anchored to an underlying floorsurface (preferably a concrete slab).

[0031] The entrance to the shelter 10 will be made of panels withdifferent entrance and door designs, depending on the application.Referring to FIG. 6, the preferred design will involve using two panels12, upper and lower, bolted together. As shown in FIG. 7, one pannelwill include an opening 24 approximating the dimensions of the door tothe room into which shelter 10 is to be nested. Such a design allowsfull access to the shelter 10 without any restrictions, such as a hingeddoor as might be attached to the shelter 10. Of course, either whenthere is no door to be closely matched for aesthetic or impedimentavoidance purposes, or within this felt that more structural strengthwill be achieved with a smaller breach of the cage-like structure ofshelter 10

I claim:
 1. A modular shelter comprising: a plurality of panels, eachsaid panel having attachment means for attachment to other said panelsfor assembly of said plurality of said panels as an enclosure, each saidpanel being configured as a grid of structural members; each said panelhaving a cladding material affixed thereto to provide a substantiallysolid outer surface; at least one of said panels having an orificedefined in the structure thereof for admitting persons or objectstherethrough after said assebly.
 2. The modular shelter of claim 1wherein said attachment means comprise: a plurality of bolt holespassing said structural members of each said panel, and being positionedin each said panel whereby a bolt may pass from one said panel toanother said panel when said panels are aligned for said assembly; aplurality of bolts sized and shaped for passage through said bolt holes;a plurality of nuts secured to said structural members adjacent to oneof said bolt holes for each pairing of two adjacent bolt holes of twoadjacent said panels when positioned for said assembly, said nutspositioned for threadingly receiving one of said bolts as said one ofsaid bolts passes through said bolts holes for joining two said panels.3. The modular shelter of claim 1 wherein each said panel is configuredas a substantially parallel array of metallic bars secured in positionby a frame member, each said frame member of each said panel having boltholes positioned for alignment with said bolt holes of said frame memberof an adjacent said panel for receiving bolts therethrough for securingsaid panels in an assembled configuration of said panels.